If you have been following the international news over the past few weeks, you may have seen how our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq are suffering terribly at the hands of the terrorist group ISIS. Men, women, and children are being murdered mercilessly by this group. I’ve included a video and some sources that you can use to keep up with this current situation and other persecuted groups too.

At Only By Prayer, we’d like to request that you intercede for the Iraqi Christians. We need to pray for protection, for the persecution to stop, and for justice to be served. If you feel led, please share your prayer in the comment section below

Pray on!

International Christian Concern (main website)

ICC article : Iraqi Crisis

Voice of the Martyrs

I Commit To Pray

Today we look at more prophecies about Jesus that foretell of his suffering. While suffering is a difficult reality of life, we can take heart in the fact that Jesus can redeem our own sufferings.

If you’d like a bit of background about Advent, please read Day One’s entry. Keep persevering in your desire to draw closer to God during this season of Advent.

To read today’s entry, simply click on the link below.

Advent Devotional, Friday, December 13, 2013

Many people think that Christians experience lives of ease and blessing. While Christians do experience joy and peace, our lives may be marked by sorrow, poverty, and dishonor. Despite hardship and suffering in Christ we may rejoice. To do the Take 5! Bible study please click on the link!

 Marks of the Ministry Part ll,

Image courtesy of artemisphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Suffering is all around us. Every one seems to be going through hard times. Lost jobs, broken relationships, bank forclosures… but God has promised that He will use all things for our good. All things? Can we believe Him for this promise? To find the truth concerning trials, please click on the link, For the Good.

Image: Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

During these troubled times, many people are facing trials and hardships. While this season of life may be difficult and painful, God promises to use it for your good. To do the study The Blessing of Affliction, just click on the link!

Apples and Grapes by Boaz Yiftach

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/search.php?search=grapes&cat=&page=5&gid_search=

Have you ever had a long season of suffering? What should we do during these hard times? God’s Word has the answer! Click on the link to do the study, “Suffering, Singing and Praying“!